LISBON.- Until two weeks ago, Gunners fans dreamed of a historic poker of titles, but on the eve of the quarterfinal first leg Championsbefore him Sporting in Lisbon (7:00 p.m. GMT), the Arsenal He faces his fears again in the face of the growing threat of closing another blank year.
As in recent years, the team Mikel Arteta impressed European football for months: first in the Champions League with full victories and superior to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 (3-1 on aggregate), leader of the Premier League with 9 points advantage over the Manchester City and I live in the national cups.
But in the last ten days he lost the final of the League Cup (against City 2-0) and were eliminated on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup for him Southamptonteam championship (2nd division) 2-1.
Two defeats in 15 days
Two defeats in two weeks, when in the first eight months Arsenal lost only three games, and doubts have settled on a team unable to win a title since 2020.
With the dream of title poker shattered, the Gunners “have to prevent the season from slipping out of their hands,” their former striker warned on the BBC Theo Walcott.
“Arsenal have been too good this season to let everything go, whether in the Premier League or the Champions League. They have been exceptional, but they have to finish the job,” agreed the former England international. Owen Hargreaves on TNT Sports.
Arsenal visits the José Alvalade stadium on Tuesday, where Sporting has won its five European games this season and still remembers the comeback against the Bodo/Glimt (5-0 in extra time, after losing 3-0 in Norway) in the previous round.
“This is not the time to lower our heads,” the midfielder said. Christian Norgaard after the disaster in Southampton.
“We have to look in the mirror, accept the situation and go to Portugal with clear ideas,” Arteta added.
Gyökeres against Luis Suárez
The pressure for the Spanish coach, who has been in charge for six years, is greater after the club’s effort last summer to sign: Hincapié, Mosquera, Kepa, Madueke, Eze, Norgaard, Zubimendi… and Gyökeres.
The London club paid 76 million euros (88 million dollars) to Sporting to snatch away their Swedish striker, scorer of 97 goals in 102 appearances with the green and white shirt.
After a discreet first few months, the 27-year-old Swede has found his place and has recovered his killer instinct with the Gunners, but his successor at Sporting, the Colombian Luis Suarezhas been a worthy successor, with 33 goals in 42 games in all competitions.
The 28-year-old Colombian has scored in the last three Champions League games played at home, against Witches, PSG and Bodo/Glimt.
To try to stop him, Arsenal will be able to count on William Salibabut perhaps not with his usual partner in the rear, Gabriel Magalhaesalthough the Brazilian, replaced due to injury this weekend, appeared on Monday at the start of the training session.
The defensive midfielder Declan Riceout at Southampton, was also present with his teammates, although not the winger Bukayo Sakaabsent on Saturday due to some discomfort.
